#gct.

IT WAS A QUIET AFTERNOON AT GOLDEN HOUR. Theo was restocking the new arrivals section, a Springsteen record filtering through the speakers. As much as he enjoyed the busy weekend hours, he didn’t mind the slow-paced Tuesdays. Not quite enough demand yet for holiday shopping, but there wasn’t the stagnancy of September.

He wasn’t alone, however, and as he slid the last record onto the shelf, he spotted James. It wasn’t surprising to find him amongst the racks. At this point, the man had him convinced that he spent more time in the shop than Theo himself did. The mystery was when he actually found the time to listen to it all.

❛ I’m starting to think I should offer a frequent flyer program, ❜ he said, starting on the next crate. ❛ At this rate, you might as well clock in. ❜ There was a joking tone to his words, though it wasn’t the first time he had considered it. ❛ I’d pay you in rare pressings and coffee. ❜

THEO KEPT THE RECORD STORE OPEN LATE on book club nights, a conscious effort to stay out of his wife’s way. The club was Eden’s, and she hardly needed him hanging around, hindering her pursuits.

Instead, he used the extra hours for inventory. The store was his passion project, and while he hardly cared which artists sold more than others, he had a running log of requests to fulfill. First, some customers felt he was too stuck in the past, so he ordered straight from the Billboard Top 100 list. Then, there was concern that he didn’t represent all types of music, which he answered by adding a selection of psychedelic meditation records.

He arrived home as the club was wrapping up, listening from the other room as someone debated Celeste's motivations for staying with Perry for so long. Eventually the voices tapered off, leaving the house in comfortable silence. ❛ Another success? ❜ Theo asked, shoulder resting against the doorway.